Mindless vandals who set fire to public toilets in Sidmouth have cost the tax payer thousands of pounds to fix the damage.
These photos show how the ladies’ loos, on The Triangle, Sidmouth, were targeted by arsonists at the start of March, deliberately setting fire to a sanitary bin, causing a blaze which spread inside the toilet cubicle.
A sanitary bin was deliberately set on fire, causing extensive damage inside the cubicle.
Photo: EDDC.
Clearing up after the arson attack is set to cost East Devon District Council (EDDC) at least £3,500 amid repairs and redecorating.
And the ladies’ loos are closed to the public while the repairs are carried out.
The ladies’ toilets are closed while repairs are carried out to the fire damaged loos.
Photo: EDDC.
The men’s toilets remain open as usual, and the unisex ‘accessible’ toilet can also be used.
Toilets at Long Park, in Woolbrook, were also hit by vandals, Sidmouth Town Council confirmed.
The blaze spread up the cubicle wall, causing fire and smoke damage to the toilet block.
Photo: EDDC.
The cost of repairing the fire damage has run into thousands of pounds, the district council said.
Photo: EDDC.
The closure of The Triangle block has prompted the town council to open its seafront public loos a month earlier.
A Sidmouth Town Council spokesman said: “The damage to the Long Park toilets, owned by Sidmouth Town Council, but maintained by East Devon District Council, was fairly light and able to be cleaned up relatively quickly.
“The damage to EDDC’s own toilets at the Triangle was extensive and will likely cost a lot to put right.
“In the meantime, to help EDDC out, and to alleviate the sudden shortage of ladies toilets in that area, Sidmouth Town Council has opened up its toilets at the Arches, on the esplanade, a month earlier than usual.”
Vandals on March 3 set fire to a sanitary bin placed inside a cubicle inside the ladies’ toilets on The Triangle, which caused ‘extensive damage’.
Repairing the vandalism is expected to cost thousands of pounds.
Image: EDDC.
Fire and smoke damage forced closure of the toilet block while the loos are decontaminated, repaired and redecorated.
The district council said it faces a bill of at least £3,500 to fix the damage. It hopes the loos will reopen before Easter.
The Triangle toilets, in Sidmouth, were targeted by vandals at the start of March.
Image: Google Street View.
An EDDC spokeswoman said “The estimated cost of repairs is currently between £3,500 and £5,000.”
She added: “Subject to contractor availability, we expect the damaged facilities at The Triangle to reopen before Easter.”
The district council said it had reported the vandalism to police and was working with the town council in a bid to curb further vandalism.
The spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that a fire occurred in the ladies’ toilets at The Triangle in Sidmouth on Tuesday evening, 3 March, causing extensive damage to the toilet block. The incident is being treated as a deliberate act of vandalism and has been reported to the police, who are making enquiries.
“As a result of the fire, the ladies’ toilets at The Triangle are currently closed while decontamination, clean‑up works and subsequent repairs and redecoration are arranged.
“The damage was caused by a sanitary bin being set alight inside one of the cubicles, resulting in damage to the cubicle and sanitaryware, as well as smoke damage to ceilings and walls throughout the ladies’ toilets.
“The men’s toilets remain open as usual, and the unisex accessible toilet is also available for use.”
She added: “We are working closely with Sidmouth Town Council to minimise disruption to residents and visitors. In the meantime, the ladies’ toilets at the Arches have been re‑opened for public use.”
Devon and Cornwall Police was contacted for a comment.
